Another year has passed and we will again celebrate Thanksgiving Day. In many homes you will find a vacant place when the family gathers for their Thanksgiving Day meal. Sons, brothers, and husbands cannot be present. They are far from home, some in one of the many camps of our country, and others somewhere across the ocean on far-flung battle fronts, or on warships. In a few homes they have received word that a beloved son or brother shall never return home again.
So much has happened this past year, are we ready to give thanks unto our God? We know that a terrible war is raging — but we have everything we can wish for as far as earthly things are concerned We have our homes, plenty of food, clothing, more than that — we live in luxury. We are still given the freedom to worship our God: a privilege many people in foreign countries do not have.
The world will also celebrate Thanksgiving Day. In some homes you will find anxiety and grief, but they try to forget, and they say when this is all over we will have a better world to live in, and they go on having a good time in this pleasure mad world.
“But we know that all things work together for good to them that love God,” whatever happens. Should not our hearts be full of thanksgiving to our heavenly Father for the many blessings He bestows on us? That God has given us Christian parents: that they have given us a Christian education, and above all that we as young people confess His name find live according to our calling —are included among the things for which we are thankful. Therefore, let us as young people of the Church attend Bible class or any of our church activities which will be of spiritual benefit unto us.
Frequently we hear from boys in the service who cannot worship as before, who now admit that they miss the communion and fellowship in the study of God’s word. Therefore, let us put forth every effort to labor and live according to our calling.
In Habakkuk we read: “Although the fig tree shall not blossom, neither fruit be on the vines: the labor of the olives shall fail, and the fields shall yield no meat: the flock shall be cut from thy fold, and there shall be no herd in the stall: Yet I will rejoice in the Lord, I will joy in the God of my salvation.”
If we have that faith in Christ Jesus our hearts will overflow with thanksgiving unto our God.
“What shall 1 render unto the Lord for all His benefits toward me? I will take the cup of Salvation and call upon the name of the Lord.”
“Oh give thanks unto the Lord: for His mercy endureth forever.”